In Burton tonight primarily to attend the England v Scotland u16 Victory Shield match which saw England win 1-0 (and with it the competition.) Have to say the quality of the football was excellent. Also have to say that the walk back to the railway station was extremely cold. However we had time to call into the Alfred and found that they were selling some additional beers from a stillage in the back room.
I went first for Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby and then Burton Bridge Old Expensive. It didn't seem as cold after them!
Friday, 30 November 2012
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
16th November 2012 - Harbourne
My turn this month to organize the monthly boys outing and so I took the opportunity to visit Harbourne, a place that had certainly been attracting my attention in recent months via its mentions in various local real ale leaflets. With the German Christmas market having opened the day before I took the opportunity to pop over early and ended up for my first beer in the Wellington in the shape of RCH Hewish Mild (most enjoyable.)
Time to move o to our meeting point, the Old Contemptables where there was something of a festival on wit several new beers for me. I opted for Sambrooks Junction. Most of the others soon joined me and it was off to catch the 22 bus to take us to Harbourne. We alighted in War Lane and headed over to the Bell, a nice olde worlde pub close to the golf course. Wye Valley Butty Bach was my selection and shortly after our final member appeared in the pub.
Our route took us next the the New Inns via an under lit pathway and although for of a food type pub maybe, the bar was a pleasant enough place to sip Bath Ales SPA.
Up to the White horse next and some 1779 Porter from Greene King.
The Harbourne Stores had seemed promising so that was out next port of call but we found it to be disappointing. Marston's EPA drunk here.
Time was pressing so time for one more before heading back to Birmingham so we went to the Junction and some Timothy Taylor Landlord.
As we left it was raining heavily but fortunately the bus shelter was only a few minutes away and only a few minutes.
We ended up at the Wellington (having tried the Joint Stock but it was quite busy) and I again went for RCH Hewish Mild which this time was not quite as good (probably due to the other beers we had been drinking.)
We had time for one more and so over to the post Office Vaults and being short on time I went for the first thing I saw - Freedom Stout.
Time to move o to our meeting point, the Old Contemptables where there was something of a festival on wit several new beers for me. I opted for Sambrooks Junction. Most of the others soon joined me and it was off to catch the 22 bus to take us to Harbourne. We alighted in War Lane and headed over to the Bell, a nice olde worlde pub close to the golf course. Wye Valley Butty Bach was my selection and shortly after our final member appeared in the pub.
Our route took us next the the New Inns via an under lit pathway and although for of a food type pub maybe, the bar was a pleasant enough place to sip Bath Ales SPA.
Up to the White horse next and some 1779 Porter from Greene King.
The Harbourne Stores had seemed promising so that was out next port of call but we found it to be disappointing. Marston's EPA drunk here.
Time was pressing so time for one more before heading back to Birmingham so we went to the Junction and some Timothy Taylor Landlord.
As we left it was raining heavily but fortunately the bus shelter was only a few minutes away and only a few minutes.
We ended up at the Wellington (having tried the Joint Stock but it was quite busy) and I again went for RCH Hewish Mild which this time was not quite as good (probably due to the other beers we had been drinking.)
We had time for one more and so over to the post Office Vaults and being short on time I went for the first thing I saw - Freedom Stout.
Monday, 26 November 2012
2nd November 2012 - Sutton Coldfield with RG
Avid readers of this blog (as if!) will recall mention of The Undercocks appearing in a pub in Sutton Coldfield some time ago and I decided back then to watch them for longer at some future time. Tonight presented an opportunity so we headed over by bus starting at the Bottle of Sack.
Wetherspoons beer festival was on and and they had one of the beers I'd made a note I wanted to sample - Titanic Golden Porter ("This special brew, for the Wetherspoon real ale festival, is something a little different:m a beer using the ingredient designed to create the characteristics of a traditional porter, yet lighter in colour. The result is a golden beer with a robust sweetness balanced by swathes of American hops giving a smooth and powerful flavour, with a crisp finish - Cascade, Northdown and Yakima Galena.") I guess that experiments like this are how new styles of beer come to be but to me the lack of darker malts meant something was missing.
We headed next to the Station, busy as usual, for Holdens Golden Glow and finally round to the Gate where the band were just completing their warm up. Beer choice was a bit limited so it was John Smiths Bitter and Carling Black Label.
Wetherspoons beer festival was on and and they had one of the beers I'd made a note I wanted to sample - Titanic Golden Porter ("This special brew, for the Wetherspoon real ale festival, is something a little different:m a beer using the ingredient designed to create the characteristics of a traditional porter, yet lighter in colour. The result is a golden beer with a robust sweetness balanced by swathes of American hops giving a smooth and powerful flavour, with a crisp finish - Cascade, Northdown and Yakima Galena.") I guess that experiments like this are how new styles of beer come to be but to me the lack of darker malts meant something was missing.
We headed next to the Station, busy as usual, for Holdens Golden Glow and finally round to the Gate where the band were just completing their warm up. Beer choice was a bit limited so it was John Smiths Bitter and Carling Black Label.
19th October 2012 - Black Country
Monthly Friday night outing with GP and co tonight finds us around the Black Country.
Arriving slightly later, I joined the other at New Street station for our train over to Wolverhampton where we headed to the Moon Under Water and I sampled Roosters Yankie.
We then caught the number 1 bus fro right outside which took us out to Sedgley dropping us outside the Mount Pleasant (aka The Stump. Salopian Lemon Dream went down well here.)
GP then lead via an estate / back way to the Beacon Hotel - Sarah Hughes Sedgley Surprise drunk here.
We then headed into the town centre and rejoined the bus route for a few minutes ending up at the Jolly Crispin (Fownes Brewing Co - based round the back of the pub.) With Halloween approaching, their Goatrider Pumpkin Ale was the natural choice (and an excellent choice it was.)
A short stroll down the road to the Britannia lead me to some Bathams Mild (and one of their excellent port pies.)
Back into Wolverhampton and the Moon Under Water and this time Wychwood Hobgoblin.
Time prevented me any further beers so that was the end of the evening.
Arriving slightly later, I joined the other at New Street station for our train over to Wolverhampton where we headed to the Moon Under Water and I sampled Roosters Yankie.
We then caught the number 1 bus fro right outside which took us out to Sedgley dropping us outside the Mount Pleasant (aka The Stump. Salopian Lemon Dream went down well here.)
GP then lead via an estate / back way to the Beacon Hotel - Sarah Hughes Sedgley Surprise drunk here.
We then headed into the town centre and rejoined the bus route for a few minutes ending up at the Jolly Crispin (Fownes Brewing Co - based round the back of the pub.) With Halloween approaching, their Goatrider Pumpkin Ale was the natural choice (and an excellent choice it was.)
A short stroll down the road to the Britannia lead me to some Bathams Mild (and one of their excellent port pies.)
Back into Wolverhampton and the Moon Under Water and this time Wychwood Hobgoblin.
Time prevented me any further beers so that was the end of the evening.
10th October 2012 - Burton upon Trent
In Burton tonight for a meeting at the Old Cottage. Beer sampled was Old Cottage Stout.
13th July 2012 - Stoke-upon-Trent - Sam's leaving do
Attended the Glebe in Stoke-upon-Trent this evening to bid farewell top a colleague, Sam Rowley, who was leaving for pastures new.
Beers sampled were all from Joules namely Blonde, Pale Ale and Slumbering Monk, which to me looks and tastes like Bass as it used to be.
Beers sampled were all from Joules namely Blonde, Pale Ale and Slumbering Monk, which to me looks and tastes like Bass as it used to be.
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